A ruse was now invented by Major Andre to acquaint Arnold of his whereabouts. Some parties had shown a flag of truce on shore to the Vulture and a boat was sent to communicate with them. When a boat with a flag from the Vulture approached the shore it was fired upon from ambush. This violation of the usage of warfare was a subject for remonstrance. Therefore, a letter was sent to General Arnold by Captain Sutherland of the Vulture, claiming usage against the code of civilized nations at war. The letter was in the handwriting of Andre and signed, “John Anderson, Secretary.” Here was the information sought. Arnold immediately set about the plan to bring Major Andre ashore for an interview. Joshua Hett Smith lived about two miles below Stony Point, near the mouth of Haverstraw Creek. He had boats and boatmen. He was a confidant of Arnold and was engaged, upon various occasions, to enter the enemy’s lines for the Commander of West Point. Arnold’s plan was finally fixed. He went to Smith’s house and sent two boatmen with Smith to bring a gentleman, named John Anderson, from the Vulture to a point four miles below Smith’s house, to a lonely spot on the banks of the Hudson, in the darkness of midnight. Arnold had provided Smith with three papers signed by himself. When the boat started from the mouth of Haverstraw Creek it was past eleven o’clock and the night was serene. The boat sped along undiscovered until the lookout on the Vulture hailed and ordered the men alongside. Smith mounted the side and was immediately ordered below. There he met Captain Sutherland and Colonel Robinson. The latter he knew personally, for Robinson had been his neighbor on the Hudson. Smith handed over the papers from Arnold. The cunning displayed by Arnold was portrayed in these documents. Shielding himself from detection he secretly intimated his desire to meet Major Andre. The first letter addressed to Colonel Robinson was as follows: “Headquarters, Robinson House, “September 21, 1780. “This will be delivered to you by Mr. Smith who will conduct you to a place of safety. Neither Mr. Smith nor any other person shall be made acquainted with your proposals. If they (which I doubt not) are of such nature that I can officially take notice of them I shall do it with pleasure. I take it for granted that Colonel Robinson will not propose anything that is not for the interest of the United States as well as himself. “(Signed) B. Arnold, M. Gen’l.” The next letter was to deceive the guard boats, many of which were stationed along the Hudson to intercept commerce with the enemy. “Headquarters, Robinson House, “September 21, 1780.